People will be able to look at the design proposals for the redevelopment, chat and ask questions of representatives from NHS Property Services, Medical Architecture (designers of the new facility), Kier (construction process), staff from NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and local NHS provider trusts.

As announced last month, the former Priory ward building will be completely redeveloped as part of the plans, with the current building stripped to its shell and completely rebuilt to provide a modern, health care environment for local people.

Existing community and outpatient clinics will continue to be provided in the new-look centre, while additional space will be created for more services to be provided from the site in the future.

The £4 million redevelopment will be funded in the most part by NHS Property Services, who will also own the building. The Chaloner Building, also owned by NHS Property Services, currently provides a base for administrative staff. This building will be sold as part of the redevelopment of the site as it has been declared surplus to local NHS requirements.

The Guisborough project is also in line with the recently published national Sustainability Transformation Plan (STP), which focuses on providing more care in local communities or in patients’ homes, supported by GPs, NHS community services, and with the NHS working together with social care and the voluntary sector. The draft STP is available to view on the CCG website – www.southteesccg.nhs.uk.

Work is expected to begin on the site in October 2017 and be completed by October 2018. Some services will temporarily move to the day hospital building while work is carried out.

The CCG will work closely with provider organisations such as South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that disruption for patients will be kept to a minimum.

The following services will continue to be provided from the health centre following the major redevelopment:

Dr Janet Walker, Chair of the CCG said: “This is fantastic news for Guisborough and the local area and reaffirms our commitment to provide health services as close to home as possible, in keeping with our IMProVE programme from 2014.

“We are looking forward to working with NHS Property Services, our partner trusts and the construction companies to provide a first class health facility for Guisborough.”

Kevin Oxley, Director of Estates, Facilities and Capital Planning at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This major new development will provide a fantastic modern, purpose-built facility for patients and staff, housing existing community and outpatient services while also giving us the opportunity to provide additional services in Guisborough in the future.”

Peter Todd, Principal Construction Manager at NHS Property Services, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with South Tees CCG to continue the implementation of the CCG’s IMPRoVE Programme and provide the local community with more choice and care closer to home.

“The modifications to Guisborough Hospital will improve the quality of the patient environment and their experience; ensure modern, fit for purpose premises. and deliver real efficiency savings for the local health economy.

“It’s an exciting time and we look forward to sharing more information with the local community, as the programme of work continues.”

A: No. All services that are currently provided will continue to be provided.

Q: Why not refurbish the Chaloner building?

A: This was one of the initial options considered, but due to Chaloner’s limited car parking, fundamental issues with its layout and configuration and its access path being on such a steep hill, the Priory Block was seen as the preferred option for redevelopment as it is easier for patients to access.

Q: What will happen to Chaloner Building?

A: Currently there are administrative services in the building. These will move to Langbaurgh House in Guisborough and then the building will return to NHS Property Services.

Q: What about the listed part of the building?

A: The listed part of the building has been declared surplus to local healthcare requirements and is not part of the redevelopment proposals.

Q: What will happen to x-ray?

A: X-ray will continue to operate in its current location until the new facility is complete at which point it will relocate.

Q: Where will services go while building work is completed?

A: Services based in the Priory Block, such as physiotherapy, will be temporarily moved to the site’s day hospital building while

All decisions by NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on the provision or acceptance of gifts and hospitality must be able to withstand both internal and external scrutiny. Casual gifts or offers of hospitality by contractors or others must not be in any way connected with the performance of duties so as to constitute an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 or not comply with the requirements of the NHS England Statutory Guidance on Declarations of Interest.

NHS South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has completed a procurement exercise and awarded contracts for its enhanced urgent care service, which takes effect on 1 April 2017.

The CCG announced plans to improve and simplify urgent care service earlier this year, and held a formal public consultation from January to April.

From 1 April 2017, 4 new extended hours GP centres will open, offering in excess of 90,000 additional appointments every year.

The new centres will offer appointments 7 days a week from 6pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 9.30pm at weekends and bank holidays. They will be situated at North Ormesby Health Village, Redcar Primary Care Hospital, East Cleveland Hospital in Brotton and One Life Middlesbrough, on Linthorpe Road.

Local GPs, working together through the ELM Alliance will provide the extended hours GP centres and will be able to have access to your patient notes to help manage your health needs most effectively.

The ELM Alliance is a not-for-profit Federation of all independent GP practices throughout South Tees which covers over 300,000 patients

ELM Alliance will also provide urgent support outside these hours, working with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust. The out of hours service will be based from Redcar Primary Care Hospital and a site in Middlesbrough, in addition to home visits where needed. Patients will be able to access appointments by calling 111, which is free to call from landlines and mobiles and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Amanda Hume, Chief Executive at NHS South Tees CCG said: “I am delighted for our patients who can now have much greater access to health care staff, when they need it.”

“Our new services will come into effect on 1 April 2017 and we will be letting people know more details about the changes and how it affects them in due course.

“Until then, people should continue to access services in exactly the same way as they do now by calling their GP practice, using the walk in centres at North Ormesby and Eston Grange, the minor injury unit at Redcar Primary Care Hospital or accessing the STAR scheme via NHS 111.”

Dr Teik Goh, ELM medical director said: “ELM Alliance is a not-for-profit Federation of all GP practices throughout South Tees and our goal is to enhance the delivery of health and care services for the local population. Amid the significant pressures and challenges facing the NHS, we are delighted and well placed to provide a high quality out of hours service for our patients which will commence on 1 April 2017.”

What does your local NHS do well? What can we do better?

The Better Health Programme is about how the NHS can provide better care for patients, and they want to find out what’s important to you about the care the local NHS provides, in particular maternity services and children’s services.

Find out more and have your say at one of their events by registering using the link below or call 01642 745401.

Venue

Date

Time

North Ormesby Community Hub and LibraryDerwent Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, TS3 6JB

I’ve just been reading the new stopping smoking campaign information. I heard complaints on the radio this morning around the use of children to get their parents to stop smoking being inappropriate, and representing ‘blackmail’.

Medically, I have to disagree as there will be significant health benefits for both parent and child by stopping smoking and indeed money to be saved by the smoker themselves and the NHS by reducing smoking related illnesses.

There are many different factors that can be the first trigger to someone deciding to stop smoking and I agree that using a variety of different approaches is completely justifiable. In my surgery I do hear children asking their parents to stop smoking- and that applies to younger children, but also children who are now themselves adults, and I know this can sometimes be the first prompt.

However, stopping smoking can be tricky and the newly updated quit information has all sorts of information including what is available locally to help and support any one who is thinking about stopping.

If you smoke yourself or want to help a loved one to stop you can find information at the NHS Smokefree website.